Toyota Soarer

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Image:1988 Toyota Soarer.jpg

The Toyota Soarer was a personal luxury coupé sold by Toyota in Japan from 1981 to 2005. The Soarer débuted in 1981 with the Z1 series, which took the form of a boxy two-door coupé. In 1986, a more rounded Soarer was launched (the Z2 series). In 1990, Toyota commissioned the development of a luxury coupe for its new upscale Lexus division. In 1991, this vehicle premiered in the U.S. as the Lexus SC 400, while in Japan similar versions were introduced as the third generation (30 series) Toyota Soarer. In 2001, Toyota introduced a convertible successor which appeared in Japan as the fourth generation (40 series) Toyota Soarer, and elsewhere as the Lexus SC 430. In 2005, following the introduction of Lexus in Japan, sales of the Soarer were discontinued and the Lexus SC 430 became available in the Japanese market.

Compared to the equivalent 1991-2000 Lexus SC, the 30 series Soarers offered a greater variety of powertrain specifications and vehicle configurations, while sharing the same body style and multiple components.

1 Z1 series (1981-1985)
2 Z2 series (1986-1991)
3 30 series (1991-2000)
4 40 series (2001-2004)
5 External Resources

[edit] Z1 series (1981-1985)

The Z1 series Toyota Soarer was produced from February 1981 to December 1985, and came in 2.0L or 2.8L DOHC I-6 variants. The first generation Soarer debuted with a rear-wheel drive configuration [1].

[edit] Z2 series (1986-1991)

The Z2 series Toyota Soarer was produced from January 1986 to April 1991, and came in three variants: naturally aspirated 2.0L DOHC I-6, 2.0L twin turbo DOHC I-6, and naturally aspirated 3.0L DOHC I-6 with available air suspension [2].

[edit] 30 series (1991-2000)

More information: Lexus SC 300 / SC 400

In 1990, following the successful launch of its upscale Lexus division in the U.S., Toyota commissioned its California design studios to develop a new luxury coupe. In 1991, this vehicle debuted in the U.S. as the Lexus SC 400. That same year, the 30 series Toyota Soarer was introduced in Japan, replacing the Z2 series in that market. The 30 series Soarer, which shared the same body style and design as the Lexus SC 400, was not sold elsewhere outside Japan outside of used imports (common in New Zealand, Australia, and the British Isles).

At the time of its 1991 debut, the Toyota Soarer boasted some of the rarest and most luxurious features of any car on the road at the time. It rivaled the likes of US$75,000 BMW & Mercedes-Benz vehicles and could be bought for a fraction of the price. It had a luxury feel to it, yet the 2.5GT twin turbo model was truly a very powerful sports car as well.

The Toyota Soarers made from the years 1991-1997 were offered with a 4-speed automatic transmission for all models and a 5-speed from 1997 to 2000. The 2.5GT and U.S. SC 300 models could be had with a 5-speed manual transmission. The car shared the same chassis as the MKIV 1993-1998 model Toyota Supra. Both cars' suspension, brakes, drivetrains, and engine parts were interchangeable.

The JZZ31/Lexus SC 300 used the same engine and transmission as the U.S. MKIV 1993-1998 model year Toyota Supra N/A. This 3.0 liter DOHC Inline Six engine, the 2JZ-GE, was also used in the Lexus IS 300 and GS 300 models. The SC 300 was available with a manual 5-speed transmission for the 1994-1997 model years. The SC 400 featured a 4.0 litre V8 engine (1UZ-FE) of 190-195kw (250-260bhp) and was available only with an automatic transmission.

[edit] 30 Series Soarer models

JZZ30 - 2.5L 6 cyl twin turbo (1991-1995)
JZZ30 - 2.5L 6 cyl single turbo VVTi (1996-2000)
JZZ31 - 3.0L 6 cyl (US Lexus SC 300) (1994-2000)
UZZ30 - 4.0L 8 cyl (US Lexus SC 400) (1991-1996)
UZZ31 - 4.0L 8 cyl air suspension (1991-1997)
UZZ32 - 4.0L 8 cyl 4ws, active suspension (1991-1996)

[edit] 30 Series turbo variants

In Japan, the 1991-1996 Soarer was available in one specific model with a 1JZ-GTE 2.5L Twin Turbo engine which was the first generation of the J motors. The second generation featured in the Toyota Supra Twin Turbo 1993-1997 and 2001 which was the 2JZ-GTE. It produced 206kW (280bhp) and 363Nm of torque @ 4800rpm. Due to the power limit in force in Japan at the time, engines in fast cars often produced more than advertised. From August 1996 the twin turbo engine was updated to a single turbo unit with variable valve timing (VVTi), nominally producing the same 206kW but greater low-end torque of 378Nm at just 2400rpm. The 1996 model also received minor cosmetic changes featuring revised front and rear bumpers and side mouldings.

The 2.5 litre turbo Soarer variant was available in two trim levels - the GT-T and the GT-TL which added electric seats, wood trim and cruise control to the list of standard features.

[edit] 30 Series UZZ31 and UZZ32 models

The UZZ31 and UZZ32 Soarer models, not sold in the U.S., had more luxury features than the turbo cars or the SC 300/SC 400. Features like full leather electrically adjustable seating with seat heaters and memory systems, electrically adjusted auto-retracting steering, and ultrasonic de-misters in the wing mirrors helped distinguish these cars from their sportier versions and from their German competition. The UZZ31 and UZZ32 models were also available with an "EMV" (Electro Multi Vision) package which provided a screen with television, navigation (Japan only), diagnostics, car computer and touch control of all functions in the climate air conditioning system and of the sophisticated 7-speaker (with subwoofer) audio system with digital signal processing.

The UZZ31 used height-adjustable air suspension which was also switchable between luxury and sport modes, but regardless behaved more like a luxury car than a sporting car.

The UZZ32 model was the top of the line 30 series featuring four wheel steering and a complex hydraulic computer controlled active suspension system. This did away with conventional springs and anti-roll (stabiliser) bars in favour of hydraulic struts controlled by sensors that detected cornering, acceleration and braking forces. The system worked well and gave an unusually controlled yet smooth ride, but the weight penalty of the system affected straight-line performance quite a bit, and the car was costly to produce. As a result, only 873 UZZ32's were made.

[edit] 40 series (2001-2004)

More information: Lexus SC 430

The 2001 40 series Soarer 430SCV featured a hardtop which could fold into the boot of the car, in the fashion of the contemporary Mercedes-Benz SL. Compared with the 30 series it is generally considered a retreat in visual style.

The model was sold outside Japan since 2001 as the Lexus SC 430. On July 26, 2005, Lexus was introduced in Japan, with the 2006 SC 430, IS 250/IS 350, and GS 350/GS 430 models in its lineup. The debut of Lexus and the SC 430 coincided with the conclusion of Toyota Soarer sales.